12.

Motion Along A Straight Line [Past-Year Questions]

1. SPM 2003 P2 Q12
A particle moves in a straight line and passes through a fixed point O, with a velocity of 24
ms-1. Its acceleration, a ms-2, t s after passing through O is given by a = 10-2t. The particle
stops after k s.
(a) Find (i) the maximum velocity of the particle,
(ii) the value of k. [6 marks]
(b) Sketch a velocity-time graph for 0 �t �k.
Hence, or otherwise, calculate the total distance traveled during that period. [4marks]
Answers: 49, 12, 432

2. SPM 2004 P2Q15

A particle moves along a straight line fro a fixed point P. Its velocity, V ms -1, is given by
V= 2t(6-t), where t is the time, in seconds, after leaving the point P.
(Assume motion to the right is positive.)
Find
(a) the maximum velocity of the particle, [3 marks]
(b) the distance traveled during the third second, [3 marks]
(c) the value of of t when the particle passes the point P again, [2marks]
(d) the time between leaving P and when the particle reverses its direction of motion.
[ 2marks]

1
Answers: 18, 17 , 9, 6
3

3. SPM 2005 P2Q15

Diagram below shows the positions and directions of motion of two objects, P and Q, moving
in a straight line passing two fixed points, A and B respectively. Object P passes the fixed
point A and the object Q passes the fixed point B simultaneously. The distance AB is 28 m

The velocity of P, vp ms-1, is given vp =6+4t-2t2 , where t is the time, in seconds A, after it
passes A while Q travels with a constant velocity of -2 ms -1, Object P stops instantaneously at
the point C, (Assume that the positive direction of motion is towards the right)
Find,
(a) the maximum velocity, in ms-1-, of P, [3 marks]
(b) the distance, in m, of C from A, [4 marks]
(c) the distance, in m, between P and Q when P is at the point C. [3 marks]
Answers: 8, 18, 4
 4.SPM 2006 P2 Q12
A particle moves in a straight line and passes through a fixed point O. Its velocity, v ms -1-, is
given by v= t2 -6t + 5, where t is the time, in seconds, after leaving O. (Assume motion to the
right is positive)
(a) Find
(i) the initial velocity of the particle,
(ii) the time interval during which the particle moves towards the left,
(iii) the time interval during which the acceleration of the particle is positive.
[5marks]
(b) Sketch the velocity-time graph of the motion of the particle 0 �t �5 [2marks]
(c ) calculate the total distance traveled during the first 5 seconds after leaving O.[3 marks]

Answers: 5, 1 < t < 5 , t>3 , 13

5. SPM 2007 P2Q12

A particle moves along a straight line and passes through a fixed point, O. Its velocity, v ms -1-, is
given by v = t2 – 6t + 8, where t is the time, in seconds, after passing through O
[Assume motion to the right is positive]
Find
(a) the initial velocity, in ms-1 [1 mark]
(b) the minimum velocity, in ms-1 [3 marks]
(c) the range of values of t during which the particle moves to the left. [2 marks]
(d) the total distance, in m, traveled by the particle in the first 4 seconds [4 marks]

Answers: 8 ms-1, -1 ms-1 , 2 < t < 4 , 8 m

6. SPM 2008 P2Q12

A particle moves along a straight line and passes through a fixed point, O. Its velocity, v ms -1-, is
given by v = 10 + 3t – t2 , where t is the time, in seconds, after passing through O. The particle
stops instantaneously at a point R.
Find
(a) the acceleration, in ms-2, of the particle at R [3 marks]
-1
(b) the maximum velocity, in ms , of the particle, [3 marks]
(c) the total distance, in m, travelled by the particle in the first 9 seconds , after passing
through O. [4 marks]
[Ans : – 7ms-2, 12.25 ms-1, 77 1/3 m ]